Adult learners gain valuable construction experience at hospital redevelopment site

Four students from Bradford College recently undertook a two-week placement on the Lynfield Mount Hospital site to gain valuable insight into the delivery of a live construction project.

The students, who are enrolled on the Adult Construction Skills course, were welcomed to the Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust site which is currently undergoing a £65 million phased investment to improve the facilities for people who use the Trust’s services and colleagues working on site.

As part of the one-year course, students gain an introduction to construction and potential career opportunities within the industry.

Louise Rigg, Project Director of the Lynfield Mount Hospital Redevelopment Programme, said:

“As well as making a difference to people who use the Trust’s services and staff members, we want the redevelopment to have a positive and lasting impact on the hospital’s local communities.

“We are pleased that the programme is able to give people the chance to learn new skills and help them think about their future careers.”

Reflecting on their experience, one student said:

“I found the site to be not only informative and professional but enjoyable too.

“Everyone was friendly and I gained an insight into how different trades worked, as well as the managerial side of the site and how it functions.

“The experience was unforgettable.”

Across a fortnight, the students worked alongside McAvoy, the contractor leading on the redevelopment, to shadow different roles working on the construction of the new ward block and the refurbishment of the current building. They also learned about site operations and project management from the team overseeing the works.

Duan Kapp, Project Manager at McAvoy, said:

“Supporting local communities is a key part of our commitment to creating social value on every project we deliver. We were delighted to welcome the students and give them the opportunity to experience a live site environment and learn more about our offsite manufacturing and integrated project delivery process.

“Projects like this rely on a strong pipeline of skilled people entering the industry, so it is vital that we continue to support and inspire the next generation of talent.”

The Construction Academy Course supports adults aged 19-24, who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), to develop technical skills in areas like bricklaying, joinery, decorating and electrical, as well as contextualised maths, employability and soft skills such as problem-solving.

As part of the course, students benefit from live work experience placements to help expose them to the world of work and develop skills that are attractive to future employers.

John Wells, Project Manager at the Construction Academy, said:

“Work experience is an invaluable part of the programme as it gives learners the opportunity to see the trades they have been studying put into practice. It also allows them to see the wide variety of roles that can be involved in a construction project.

“What made this opportunity particularly incredible was the approach taken by the team working on the Lynfield Mount Hospital redevelopment to provide students with an all-round experience. In addition to spending time on site, they were also given an insight into the site office side of things which usually doesn’t happen on a standard work experience placement.”